I just wonder how much is real and how much is hype... I seen more and more vets questioning his record.... and not just because they are for "Bush".... in fact, a lot are generally kind of anti-politician in general from what I have been reading...

patfromlogan

1st March 04, 11:27 AM

How about Kerry's fake throwing away his medals in a protest at the White House in 73?

These guys don't seem to thrilled with Kerry:
http://store6.yimg.com/I/neuse_1780_147426

2-8. Purple Heart
The Purple Heart was established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York, on 7 August 1782, during the Revolutionary War. It was reestablished by the President of the United States per War Department General Orders 3, 1932 and is currently awarded pursuant to Executive Order 11016 , 25 April 1962, Executive Order 12464 , 23 February 1984 and Public Law 98-525 , 19 October 1984.

a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded--

(1) In any action against an enemy of the United States.

(2) In any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged.

(3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

(4) As a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces.

(5) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.

(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack.

(7) After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

b. While clearly an individual decoration, the Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not "recommended" for the decoration; rather he or she is entitled to it upon meeting specific criteria.

(1) A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under conditions indicated above, but for each subsequent award an Oak Leaf Cluster will be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon. Not more than one award will be made for more than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, explosion, or agent.

(2) A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained under one or more of the conditions listed above. A physical lesion is not required, however, the wound for which the award is made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.

(3) When contemplating an award of this decoration, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.

(4) Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

(a) Injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action.

(e) Concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.

(5) Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart are as follows:

(a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.

(b) Heat stroke.

(c) Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.

(d) Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.

(e) Battle fatigue.

(f) Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.

(g) Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.

(h) Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence.

(i) Post traumatic stress disorders.

(j) Jump injuries not caused by enemy action.

(6) It is not intended that such a strict interpretation of the requirement for the wound or injury to be caused by direct result of hostile action be taken that it would preclude the award being made to deserving personnel. Commanders must also take into consideration the circumstances surrounding an injury, even if it appears to meet the criteria. Note the following examples:

(a) In a case such as an individual injured while making a parachute landing from an aircraft that had been brought down by enemy fire; or, an individual injured as a result of a vehicle accident caused by enemy fire, the decision will be made in favor of the individual and the award will be made.

(b) Individuals wounded or killed as a result of "friendly fire" in the "heat of battle" will be awarded the Purple Heart as long as the "friendly" projectile or agent was released with the full intent of inflicting damage or destroying enemy troops or equipment.

(c) Individuals injured as a result of their own negligence; for example, driving or walking through an unauthorized area known to have been mined or placed off limits or searching for or picking up unexploded munitions as war souvenirs, will not be awarded the Purple Heart as they clearly were not injured as a result of enemy action, but rather by their own negligence.

c. A Purple Heart will be issued to the next of kin of each person entitled to a posthumous award. Issue will be made automatically by the Commanding General, PERSCOM, upon receiving a report of death indicating entitlement.

d. Upon written application to Commander, ARPERCEN, ATTN: DARP-VSE-A, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132-5200, award may be made to any member of the Army, who during World War I, was awarded a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate signed by the Commander in Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, or who was authorized to wear wound chevrons. Posthumous awards to personnel who were killed or died of wounds after 5 April 1917 will be made to the appropriate next of kin upon application to the Commanding General, PERSCOM.

e. Any member of the Army who was awarded the Purple Heart for meritorious achievement or service, as opposed to wounds received in action, between 7 December 1941 and 22 September 1943, may apply for award of an appropriate decoration instead of the Purple Heart.

f. For those who became Prisoners of War after 25 April 1962, the Purple Heart will be awarded to individuals wounded while prisoners of foreign forces, upon submission by the individual to the Department of the U.S. Army of an affidavit that is supported by a statement from a witness, if this is possible. Documentation and inquiries should be directed to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPC-PDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471.

g. Any member of the U.S. Army who believes that he or she is eligible for the Purple Heart, but through unusual circumstances no award was made, may submit an application through military channels, to Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN: TAPC-PDA, Alexandria, VA 22332-0471. Application will include complete documentation, to include evidence of medical treatment, pertaining to the wound.

h. As noted in a above, the Purple Heart may be awarded to civilian nationals of the United States. These individuals must be serving under competent authority with the Army when wounded. Serving under competent authority with the Army will include those eligible persons who are employees of the U.S. Government in a duty (pay or official travel) status when wounds are sustained. Examples of eligible individuals are as follows:

(1) Any Army employee who is traveling outside of the continental limits of the United States on PCS or temporary duty (TDY) aboard a commercial aircraft and wounded by international terrorists in an attempted or actual hijacking incident.

(2) An Army employee in an Army office building performing his or her job who is wounded by an explosive device detonated by international terrorists.

(3) A civil or foreign service employee from a U.S. Government Agency or Department attached to an Army element performing intelligence, counter-terrorist, or other duties with the Army wounded by international terrorists.

(4) An Army employee wounded in an international terrorist incident in which a soldier or soldiers are also wounded.

The Wastrel

1st March 04, 11:32 AM

Pat is swallowing the Karl Rove line. Hilarious.

Justme

1st March 04, 11:32 AM

point taken...;)

patfromlogan

1st March 04, 11:45 AM

Watrel, no I'm not swallowing the Karl Rove line, and I resent your implication. Do you dispute that Kerry faked the throwing away of his medals? Try and respond with out ridicule, it will help your possible career as a lawyer if the Judge doesn't nail you for contempt.

Do what I have done and read the threads by vets about Kerry getting his medals and how he was able to get so many so fast. At the least he was skilled at manipulating the system and got out of combat quickly. He spent only a few months in an actual combat zone. Most of his time was on a cruiser where he was perfectly safe and ate at the officers mess, served by enlisted personal. A lot of Vietnam vets are not happy with Kerry and it's not because they love asshole Rove and march around mindlessly saying ditto to Rush.

And, for your information, in Texas Rove was known as "Bush's Brain."

I am swallowing the line of S. Brian Wilson, who you may remember is the Vietnam vet who lost both legs in a protest of arms shipments. Here is part of his letter to Kerry:

"The first hint of a bit of disconnect in your style was when during your first Senate campaign you denied returning your war medals, with a thousand other veterans, in protest of the war during Dewey Canyon III. That was a bit of a shock, since for most veterans who returned their medals in that emotional ceremony on Friday, April 23, 1971, it was a very proud and healing moment. Your 1984 campaign response: You had returned the medals of a WWII acquaintance at his direction. All those 13 years everyone thought you had had the courage and leadership to return medals that to veterans who returned them represented medals of dishonor drenched in the blood of innocent Vietnamese who did not deserve to die for a lie, any more than our fellow US Americans. I guess you knew then that you were to be running for office."

The Wastrel

1st March 04, 11:55 AM

Pointing out "vets" is so utterly without merit. There are "vets" on either side. Nobody speaks for "vets". Especially not you.

That aside. Kerry has claimed that he was throwing medals for people who could not attend. And....

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT AM I?

Ass. I am talking about the claim that he didn't deserve his Purple Hearts because he wasn't injured "enough". Now, are you going to read the relevant Army reg or not?

For my part, I think he may have made mistakes. But at least as a young man he had some political convictions and he fought for them. But shit man, there are just out'n'out lies going around about the guy. And where do you think they're coming from?

I fucking hate it that his legitimate service career is being subjected to this politicizing. They did the same thing to Clark. On his awards...there's nothing there man. You can't issue awards to yourself, and yes there's a lot of subjectivity to many of them. But anyone who's ever been inthe military can honestly tell you that making a big flap over his awards is just plain silly. Lynch won a Purple Heart for a car accident, and anyone deployed to Iraq this time around won a Bronze Star. When I was at West Point there were cadets walking around with National Defense Ribbons BECAUSE THEY WERE STUDYING AT WEST POINT! Most of those kids had the honesty to regret having to wear those awards but Christ...Kerry wasn't hurt ENOUGH? He wasn't in ENOUGH combat?

Likewise, I'm willing to extend a little charity to Dubya over his ANG service. All he did was benefit from the same "Fortunate Son" treatment that many others of his generation, and with his family's influence did. The only point in ever bringing it up was in shooting down his pumping up his service record and playing himself off as a war patriot.

patfromlogan

1st March 04, 12:06 PM

Read my edited version please.

And why do you call me names? WTF is wrong with you? I'm not calling you names, why do you get personal?

http://www.brianwillson.com/awolkerry.html is the link to Wilson's letter.

The Wastrel

1st March 04, 12:10 PM

Because you don't speak for vets. No one does. The rest is in PM.

Beneath Contempt

1st March 04, 12:18 PM

You should adopt British medal policy - you get nothing for being wounded - the Military medal for being incredibly brave, the George Cross for being stupidly brave, and the Victoria Cross is mostly given out to those who are so brave or stupid that they're dead. Too much medal inflation in the US armed forces.

Not knocking anyone here, but during Purple Star, some marines told me that some of the decorations are for skill-at-arms tests. Maybe everyone would benefit if the policy was reversed, and anyone NOT achieving a certain score got a brown turd-shaped medal to wear instead.

punchingdummy

1st March 04, 12:35 PM

I like the fact that multiple perspectives are shared in this article. Wish there were more like it.

I'm not questioning Kerry's record in particular, but in general think its healthy to pursue more details on any public figure who calls himself, or called by others, a war hero. There are MANY true and deserving heros who have distinguished themselves. But the award process is very subjective and there are many marginal awards - - and in some cases a whole lot of self promotion to get awards. Give them credit for putting themselves in harms way, but there is a fairly well known issue of award inflation (which I point out the recent episode of which appears to be more of an Air Force and Army issue and not so with the Marine Corps).

It's akin to a MA instructor claiming to be a "champion". Great! Let me hear the details!

punchingdummy

1st March 04, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by Beneath Contempt
You should adopt British medal policy - you get nothing for being wounded - the Military medal for being incredibly brave, the George Cross for being stupidly brave, and the Victoria Cross is mostly given out to those who are so brave or stupid that they're dead. Too much medal inflation in the US armed forces.

Not knocking anyone here, but during Purple Star, some marines told me that some of the decorations are for skill-at-arms tests. Maybe everyone would benefit if the policy was reversed, and anyone NOT achieving a certain score got a brown turd-shaped medal to wear instead.

The Order of the Purple Heart is a worthy medal. While it does not designate "hero" status, it does recognize the sacrafices and hardships one assumes to serve - especially when they result in personal harm...and for many young men (and women), the fact that they will get recognized for injury is enough to make them go out and risk it...

I do, however, agree that the US needs to do a better job keeping awards in check.